Valve cartridge

Abstract

A valve cartridge includes a housing having a bore. A fixed control disc and a rotatable control disc are provided in the bore. A shaft extends through the bore, and rotation of the shaft serves to rotate the rotatable control disc relative to the fixed control disc. The shaft is seated in said bore using at least one bushing. The at least one bushing serves in spacing the shaft from the housing, and provides for the smooth rotation of the shaft relative to the housing.

1 . A valve cartridge, comprising:
 a housing having a bore;   a shaft extending through said bore; and   at least one bushing received on said shaft to space said shaft from said housing, said at least one bushing providing for the smooth rotation of said shaft relative to said housing.   
   
   
       2 . A valve cartridge according to  claim 1 , further comprising a fixed control disc and a rotatable control disc provided in said bore, wherein rotation of said shaft serves to rotate said rotatable control disc relative to said fixed control disc. 
   
   
       3 . A valve cartridge according to  claim 2 , wherein, depending on the degree of rotation of said rotatable control disc relative to said fixed control disc, varying amounts of water can flow through the valve cartridge. 
   
   
       4 . A valve cartridge according to  claim 3 , wherein said housing includes an inlet port and at least one outlet port formed therein, and rotation of said rotatable control disc relative to said fixed control disc serves to control the amount of water passing from said inlet port to said at least one outlet port. 
   
   
       5 . A valve cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one bushing is composed of a polymeric material. 
   
   
       6 . A valve cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein said shaft is seated in said bore using said at least one bushing. 
   
   
       7 . A valve cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein said housing and said shaft are composed of metallic materials, and said at least one bushing serves to prevent metal-to-metal contact of said housing and said shaft. 
   
   
       8 . A valve cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one bushing is seated in said bore to space said housing and said shaft apart from one another. 
   
   
       9 . A valve cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein said bore includes an annular shoulder, and said at least one bushing contacts said annular shoulder to prevent contact between said housing and said shaft. 
   
   
       10 . A valve cartridge according to  claim 9 , wherein said at least one bushing has an annular channel formed therearound, and said annular shoulder is received in said annular channel. 
   
   
       11 . A valve cartridge, comprising:
 a housing having a bore;   a fixed control disc provided in said bore;   a rotatable control disc provided in said bore;   a shaft extending through said bore, wherein rotation of said shaft serves to rotate said rotatable control disc relative to said fixed control disc; and   at least one bushing serving to space said shaft from said housing to provide for the smooth rotation of said shaft relative to said housing.   
   
   
       12 . A valve cartridge according to  claim 11 , wherein said at least one bushing is composed of a polymeric material. 
   
   
       13 . A valve cartridge according to  claim 11 , wherein said shaft is seated in said bore using said at least one bushing. 
   
   
       14 . A valve cartridge according to  claim 11 , wherein said housing and said shaft are composed of metallic materials, and said at least one bushing serves to prevent metal-to-metal contact of said housing and said shaft. 
   
   
       15 . A valve cartridge according to  claim 11 , wherein said at least one bushing is seated in said bore to space said housing and said shaft apart from one another. 
   
   
       16 . A valve cartridge according to  claim 11 , wherein two bushings are provided along said shaft to space said shaft from said housing, each of said bushings contacting an annular shoulder formed in said bore. 
   
   
       17 . A valve cartridge according to  claim 16 , wherein one of said bushings is provided adjacent the center of said shaft, and the other of said bushings is provided adjacent one end of said shaft. 
   
   
       18 . A valve cartridge, comprising:
 a housing defining a bore;   at least one bushing; and   a shaft seated in said bore using said at least one bushing, wherein said bushing serves to space said housing and said shaft apart from one another.   
   
   
       19 . A valve cartridge according to  claim 18 , wherein said bore includes an annular shoulder, and said at least one bushing contacts said annular shoulder to prevent contact between said housing and said shaft. 
   
   
       20 . A valve cartridge according to  claim 19 , wherein said at least one bushing has an annular shoulder provided therearound, and said annular shoulder is received in said annular channel.